Chorong Kim (graphic)
Were you ever one of those kids who thought having a green thumb literally meant having a green-coloured thumb? I (adorably) was, but I learned later that being green is a lifestyle, and it’s one you can wear.
Handmade items are always a favourite in my book, because for some reason they remind me of home-cooked meals—the common ground being that both are made with love. Joanna Ketterer, designer and founder of Luva Huva, uses organic cotton, bamboo, soy fabrics, and the occasional vintage lace in her lingerie and loungewear. It’s all about the material when it comes to comfort, but the feminine frills and simple design make the underwear even more appealing. Since a piece of fabric was what started Luva Huva, it’s no wonder that the ethically sourced materials used are the main focus of the designer. Luva Huva lingerie and loungewear is handmade in the United Kingdom and can be found on Etsy.com under the title “luvahuva.”
You can also browse Etsy for other eco-friendly options. (Just have an escape strategy.)
The Reformation truly uses the motto “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” as their guide. The brand is located in New York and Los Angeles, reinventing looks with old vintage and excess material. Their products boast more than 80 per cent reclaimed material, which is quite a feat. My favourites are the Carnation Dresses ($198), available in different floral prints, which seem mighty twirl-worthy; the Leilani Tops ($118), double spaghetti strapped cropped camisoles available in Mustard or Blush; and the Sugarcane Top ($68), a thin-striped, long-sleeved cropped top that is a basic must-have. You can find them at thereformation.com.
Don’t forget to check out We Are Local at wearelocal.ca, a company dedicated to supporting local businesses in Victoria and Vancouver.
Another genius revamping technique is presented by Drew Ginsburg of the blog Me and Lex (meandlex.blogspot.ca). Ginsburg took antiqued Swarovski crystals and oxidized silver-plated chains and turned them into badass sternum armour. The necklaces, under the brand Dylanlex, are handmade in New York and became available when Ginsburg’s Instagram followers had to have them. They’ve been so popular that only one of the six styles, named Bobbie, is left available on the site, dylanlex.com. But there’s no harm in shooting off an email about the product if you have to have one too.
Riz Boardshorts, tailors of sunshine, make their shorts and cagoules (waterproof jackets) with 100 per cent recycled and recyclable material. The brand’s gorgeous patterns are “digitally printed with earth-friendly, water-based inks.” The British brand has shorts for both surfer dudes and chicks. I’m definitely not the only one looking forward to some summer fun, so get some sunshine at rizboardshorts.com.
Babies need to splash around too, but those absorbent diapers must be a concern for the pool. Mer-mothers and fathers need fret no more! The Honest Co. has swim diapers that are stretchy, waterproof, silky, snug, soft, adjustable, toxin-free, mess-free, and (best of all) washable and reusable! They meet the health standards for all public pools and, combined with uber-adorable patterns, these swim diapers are by far the cutest wee things ever. Parents can find them, and other wonderful things for parent and baby, at honest.com.
SoYoung also has wonderful things for adults and children, particularly lunch boxes, backpacks, cooler bags, and diaper bags that too-cool-for-cute fathers will want to carry. The design of the former three is minimal, with one large coloured graphic (the most awesome being a T-Rex) printed against a parchment-y, papyrus-y background, (zip)lined with the respective colour. They are, most importantly, made without Bisphenol A (BPA), which isn’t something you want lining the containers of your food and drink. It’s a worry that could possibly lead to more concerns, so it’s probably best to seek out BPA-free products. The canvas, leather-strapped Charlie diaper bags are rugged and pocketed enough to withstand any adventure a baby might take mommy and daddy on. Who knows what could happen in the sandbox. Gear up at soyoung.ca.
It’s easy to be wasteful, but in the long run, it might just return us to the ocean. Big problems take big actions, but it’s all right to start small. You can just slowly insert more and more earth-friendly habits into your routine (and your wardrobe), even if green isn’t your colour.
